Diamond no Ace: My Sharingan

Zhou Hao wasn't usually the stubborn type.

Normally, when Chris gave a sign, Zhou Hao followed it without hesitation. This time should've been no different.

After all, it was obvious: his Spiral Ball was being targeted.

Coach Kataoka, Chris, and the entire Seidou battery had already anticipated this. If Zhou Hao kept relying on the Spiral Ball, Inashiro would adapt and tear it apart.

The plan had been clear from the start:

Use the Spiral Ball early to set an impression—then pivot when the time was right.

That pivot? Zhou Hao's newly refined Straight Ball.

They'd rehearsed this strategy over and over. Inashiro wouldn't expect it.

It was meant to be a turning point.

But now, standing tall on the mound, Zhou Hao looked Chris dead in the eye—

And shook his head.

"I'm still throwing the Spiral Ball."

Chris's brows furrowed.

Zhou Hao had never disobeyed a sign before.

Still, Chris didn't argue.

Not now—not out here. No matter the reason, conflict between pitcher and catcher couldn't be visible.

No matter what Zhou Hao was thinking, the team had to appear united.

Chris took a breath and gave a new sign.

"Fine. Spiral Ball it is."

The next batter stepped up.

Inashiro's second hitter had sharp eyes and monkey-like cheeks. Despite his odd appearance, his gaze darted around intelligently. He was no fool.

He had noticed the brief exchange between Zhou Hao and Chris.

"Hmm… disagreement between pitcher and catcher?"

That tiny crack was all he needed.

If Zhou Hao was forcing his Spiral Ball here, it meant one thing:

"He's rattled."

He smirked.

"I get it. He's proud of his Spiral Ball. One hit won't shake his ego. Makes sense."

"Alright, kid—I'll bite. Let's see how good you really are."

On the mound, Zhou Hao's heart pounded.

But it wasn't from nerves.

Just moments ago, a message had flashed in his mind:

[Spiral Ball experience sufficient. Upgrade available. Accept?]

Without hesitation, he accepted.

He had thrown thousands of Spiral Balls—in training, in games, against countless opponents.

But until now, it had never leveled up. The pitch had evolved gradually, but the system still classified it as Level 1.

Then Hanaki hit it. A clean contact.

Zhou Hao had wavered.

And right in that moment of doubt—his Spiral Ball leveled up.

Now it was time to test it.

"Let's see what this new Spiral Ball can really do."

Chris signaled again—perhaps to reconfirm. But Zhou Hao didn't need it.

He lifted his leg, wound up, and fired—

"BOOM!"

As the baseball left his fingers, Zhou Hao felt heat—not metaphorical, but real, warmth pulsing through his fingertips.

He had never felt this before.

Not after a thousand pitches. Not once.

"Is this... the upgraded Spiral Ball?"

In the batter's box, Inashiro's #2 saw the pitch flying in.

His eyes lit up.

"He really threw it! Good—don't hold back!"

He smiled coldly and timed his swing.

The bat whistled through the air.

He aimed not just to hit—but to crush the pitch. No hesitation. No second guessing.

Chris, crouching behind the plate, held his breath.

They're swinging harder now. They want to punish this pitch.

Then—

"PING!"

The bat connected with the ball.

Or rather—

It tried to.

The moment of contact, the batter's face went pale.

What…?!

His hands, gripping the bat tightly, were suddenly numb.

The bat froze mid-swing.

The force behind the Spiral Ball was beyond what he'd prepared for.

Then—

"CRACK!!"

The metal bat tore from his hands.

It launched backward, flying toward the dugout at a terrifying speed.

Chris ducked instinctively. The umpire flinched and sidestepped as if they had rehearsed the move a thousand times.

It flew again...!

The entire stadium gasped.

Inashiro's bench froze.

"What the hell was that?!"

The batter stared at his stinging palms, still shaking.

"He… upgraded it…?"

No one could explain what they just saw—but the result was clear.

The Spiral Ball was no longer the same.

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